RUBINDER BRAR Vs. PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH AND ANOTHER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This two decade old litigation raises the question of the entitlement of the petitioner to a Gold Medal and Merit Certificate for being the topper in the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) Examination in which he had qualified in the year 1992.

(2.) The ground on which the University (Panjab University) has with-held the said honour to the petitioner is that he did not clear one of his papers in the first attempt and, therefore, the stipulations applicable in this regard have not been met by the petitioner.

(3.) A reading of Clause 14 of the Regulations for Bachelor of Engineering Examinations (hereinafter referred to as 'the Regulations') as prevailing in the University at the relevant time, would indicate that "first C.W.P.No .3269 of 1993 2 attempt" has been defined to mean as the first time a candidate has actually sat for the subject in the University examination. According to the petitioner, in one of the papers, he did not appear on account of his ill health and, therefore, the occasion on which he took the paper would be the first attempt in the said paper which, therefore, entitles him to the honour in question. The University, however, has taken a contrary stand in the matter to deny the honour due to him.